Enugu Signs MoU for 2,225 Outsourcing Jobs, Targets 300,000 Seats by 2031

Our Reporter 

The Enugu State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Humantrix Consortium for the establishment of 2,225 outsourcing seats under the Enugu Talent City Initiative, with an initial 750-seat business process outsourcing operation and a long-term target of 300,000 seats by 2031.

The initiative is aimed at equipping young people with industry-relevant technology skills, creating employment opportunities and positioning Enugu as a leading digital services and outsourcing hub in Nigeria and Africa.

Governor Peter Mbah, who spoke at the MoU signing ceremony at Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday, described the agreement as a major milestone in his administration’s drive to develop local talent, create jobs and enable young people to build their futures in the state.

Mbah said the partnership had progressed from negotiations to implementation, expressing satisfaction that it would provide a clear pathway for young people to acquire relevant skills and secure employment without leaving Enugu in search of opportunities.

He noted that the initiative went beyond skills acquisition to creating attractive jobs that would enable young people to contribute directly to economic growth.

The governor said his administration had prioritised human capital development, with more than 33 per cent of the state’s budget allocated to the sector, beginning with basic education.

According to him, growing Enugu’s economy requires a skilled workforce capable of supporting private-sector investments and helping businesses thrive.

Mbah added that investors would be more encouraged to establish businesses in the state if qualified local workers were readily available, rather than incurring additional costs to recruit skilled personnel from elsewhere.

He said the administration’s vision was to build an economy where young people could live in Enugu, work for companies anywhere in the world and earn globally competitive incomes.

The governor stressed that the ambition extended beyond physical infrastructure to developing an economy in which residents could establish businesses locally while serving international markets.

He pledged the state government’s full support for the initiative and commitment to working with the consortium to implement and expand the project, expressing optimism that its benefits would reach more young people as operations scaled up.

Earlier, the leader of the Humantrix delegation, Dr Peter Side Dakuku, disclosed that negotiations leading to the agreement had lasted six months, during which the parties worked to develop a viable framework for the project.

Dakuku said the initiative would begin with a 750-seat business process outsourcing operation, alongside plans to train young people in technology and other industry-relevant skills.

He disclosed that the state government had provided a building for the project’s take-off, adding that applications would be invited from interested candidates for training and subsequent engagement in the outsourcing sector.

According to him, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between skills acquisition and employment by connecting trained participants with opportunities in the expanding global digital services market.

In his opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on MSME and Digital Economy, Arinze Chilofia, said the Enugu Talent City Initiative was conceived as part of Mbah’s ambition to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

Chilofia said the administration had identified digital services and global outsourcing as strategic sectors capable of attracting international companies, generating employment and expanding economic opportunities for residents.

He explained that the partnership would lead to the establishment of Enugu Outsourcing Limited, beginning with a 750-seat operation and with the capacity to support approximately 2,225 active agents and direct jobs across three shifts.

He described the initial 750 seats as the first phase of a broader plan to develop an outsourcing ecosystem with a capacity of up to 300,000 seats by 2031.

Chilofia said the government’s investments in education and skills development must be matched by investments that create demand for those skills and provide meaningful employment.

He commended the Humantrix Consortium for supporting the state’s vision, describing the agreement as another step towards establishing Enugu as Nigeria’s digital services and outsourcing hub.